The food services sector is expected to have generated direct employment for 5.5-6 million people in the financial year 2016, which is expected to increase to 8.5-9 million by 2021, the report further said.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said it will first ask states to run a special drive to create awareness among food business operators about the compulsory requirement of licences.

The panel of five state FMs had decided on Sunday to propose a cut in the levy from 18% to 12%, an issue that will be discussed at next month’s GST Council meeting. “The gain from input tax credit was 6%, which should have been passed on to consumers,” said a source.

The government should opt for further opening up of the multibrand retail sector to create jobs, raise farmers' incomes and help in mo dernising the economy , the vice-chairman of NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar has said.

Addressing a FICCI conference on retail, FMCG and e- commerce, he said the regulator is modernising food testing labs as part of its efforts to ensure safe and hygienic food is made available to the people.

This year, India saw a great spur in the festive shopping spree, with the season retail offers which were larger than last years sales of $2.2 billion. According to RedSeer Consulting, the sale period in October 2017 generated $3.3 billion as revenue, highlighting the importance of the festival season for generating a significant portion of an e-tailer's profit.As per The Future of Internet report by NASSCOM and Akamai, there will be 730 million internet users in the country by 2020. This also Read more..